Canada dominates USA, clinches semifinal berth along with Europe

Canada and Europe are moving on.

Thanks to a dominant 4-2 win over the United States on Tuesday, Canada punched a ticket to the World Cup semifinal round, also ensuring at least a second-place finish for Europe in Group A.

The U.S. and the Czech Republic, therefore, have been eliminated from semifinal contention.

Playing for its tournament life, the USA drew first blood as defenseman Ryan McDonagh chipped a loose puck past Carey Price, ending the Canadian goalie’s international shutout streak.

The lead did not last long, however, as Matt Duchene and Corey Perry scored 14 seconds apart to give Canada the lead. American head coach John Tortorella challenged the second goal on an assertion of goalie interference, and while the call on the ice stood, the review time was essentially used as the timeout burned by the request.

The rallying cry didn’t work in USA’s favor, though, as Duchene extended Canada’s lead with his second of the game six minutes later.

Patrice Bergeron gave the opposition a chance to cut into the lead by taking a puck-over-glass penalty early in the second, but after recording only a single shot, the Americans allowed a goal by Bergeron 30 seconds following his exit from the box.

After a lull in scoring, and after rattling the puck off the post three separate times in the latter stages of the third period, the Americans scored a second goal - credited to T.J. Oshie - as a result of the puck bouncing off Canadian Joe Thornton and into his own net.

The U.S. was unable to add more with Jonathan Quick pulled for the extra attacker, however, giving Canada the regulation victory.

Price made 25 saves for the win, while Quick allowed four goals on 34 shots.

The shot count finished 34-27 in Canada's favor, with the shot attempts painting a fuller picture of which team won the possession battle.

Canada and Europe both have two wins apiece, and will settle first place in Group A in a game to be played Wednesday night.